Arsenal expected to announce £55million signing within 48 hours

Arsenal are set to confirm the arrival of an elite midfielder in their first major summer signing.

There’s a reason Arsenal have remained quiet so far in the window. Behind the scenes, the club have been laying the groundwork for a transformative summer — and their first signing is about to make a serious statement. With long-term planning and elite-level scouting underpinning the move, Mikel Arteta is set to get his midfield general. The kind that elevates a team from contenders to champions.

Arsenal are expected to confirm the signing of Martin Zubimendi within 48 hours, a player widely regarded as one of the best holding midfielders in the world. The 26-year-old Spaniard, who has been a long-term target for the Gunners, was also admired by Liverpool, Manchester City, Real Madrid and Barcelona — but it’s North London where he’ll land.

The deal has been done for some time, but final touches were completed at the weekend and the delay in announcement was to help Real Sociedad from an accounting point of view.

Zubimendi’s €60million (£51.7m) release clause made the deal relatively straightforward once personal terms were agreed. In fact, Arsenal opted to pay slightly more — around £5million — to allow the deal to be structured over multiple years. Their excellent relationship with Real Sociedad helped smooth the process.

This is no short-term fix. Arsenal have tracked Zubimendi for over a year, with last summer’s interest in Mikel Merino opening the door to conversations about his teammate. Arteta sees him as the ideal long-term partner for Declan Rice — a player who adds tactical balance and elite composure in possession. With Thomas Partey and Jorginho departing on free transfers, the Gunners needed a new midfield heartbeat.

Zubimendi brings pedigree. A European champion with Spain in 2024, he has also been instrumental in Real Sociedad’s rise, helping them return to the Champions League and lifting the Copa del Rey. His combination of technical quality, tactical intelligence and defensive resilience makes him a near-perfect fit for Arsenal’s high-demand system.

He will soon be joined by another midfield recruit, Cristian Nørgaard, as Arsenal reshape the base of their engine room. But the midfield refresh is only the beginning. The club plan to make at least three forward additions, with Andrea Berta leading negotiations across Europe. If this opening move is anything to go by, Arsenal’s ambition this summer is very real.